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Re: Does smoke taint the honey?

I don't believe smoker smoke is a problem with honey and hives. Its very unlikely that a hive could get smoked so often, so heavily that the honey would be affected. More likely, before that happens, the bees will abscond and find a better place to live.

Re: Does smoke taint the honey?

Smoke is generally not an issue in regards to tainting capped honey but...where I live the weather and environment is extremely dry and that can have effect on how the bees cure the nectar. I always try to avoid the use of extensive smoke when I pull my shallows to extract. Because its so dry here our honey doesn't retain nearly as much moisture as it does in some climates. Our relative humidity is often 5-6% whick makes it difficult to extact at times because its so thick. Our bees often leave the cells in the boxes uncapped but I pull it anyways because its ripe. I assume they know what they are doing and will go back and cap things once the nectar flow diminishes. So I often have lots of uncapped nectar cells and for that reason I avoid the use of smoke pulling honey. Generally the bees are so busy with the flow its not an issue with management. Honey is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture and odors.

"Tradition becomes our security, and when the mind is secure it is in decay".....Krishnamurti

Re: Does smoke taint the honey?

Mike, what I think happens is that smoke, which contains little carbon particles, floats through the frames and some of those particles rest on open cells of honey and become trapped. I should imagine that the particles in the smoke vary with the type of material that is burned.

Re: Does smoke taint the honey?

maybe its keepers trying to revive a smoker going out and pumping too quickly - or smokers too hot and burning but not smoking and being pumped too hard looking for smoke....
thats why i love this forum-it makes me reflect and to try and see things like i did starting out.

"Wine is a constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy" Ben Franklin

Re: Does smoke taint the honey?

You can assuredly get a taste of smoke in honey. If you smoke too heavy, it will taint the stored nectar before it is capped. Don't even ask how I know... still ticks me off! lol
Like brylcream, a little goes a long way.

Re: Does smoke taint the honey?

I talked to a beekeeper from Maryland about a year ago and he told me that he tried smoking the bees down out of the supers which in turn made the honey taste like smoke. So he used the honey to make BBQ sauce. My guess was that the honey had not been capped to well.

Re: Does smoke taint the honey?

Originally Posted by DC Bees

My guess was that the honey had not been capped to well.

Probably. My first harvest I smoked the remaining bees down out of a fixed comb warre box to harvest it (used an escape board first). That box made the whole garage smell of smoke while it sat for a few hours. We used the crush and strain technique and the honey came out fine. Not a whiff or taste of smoke in it even though the combs smelled of smoke. All the comb was 85-90% capped at least.